Southern California -- this just in

Suspect shot in ER grabbed for deputy's gun, officials say

The man fatally shot by an L.A. County sheriff's deputy in an Inglewood emergency room Thursday apparently grabbed for another deputy's gun while handcuffed to a gurney, officials said.

The man, whose name has not been released by authorities, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, Deputy Kim Manatt said in a statement.

While at the South Los Angeles Station, the man "developed a medical issue," and paramedics took him to the Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

One of the man's hands was cuffed to a gurney while the other remained free, Manatt said.

"Using his free hand, the suspect grabbed a deputy's gun," the statement read. "Fearing for his safety and his partner's safety, a second deputy fired his weapon at the suspect."

The shooting occurred about 1:10 a.m. Thursday; the man was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The L.A. County district attorney's office, sheriff's department
homicide detectives and its internal affairs bureau will investigate the
incident, the standard response in deputy-involved
shootings, said Deputy Peter Gomez.